gay science

English edit

(dated) The art of poetry.
- 1720, Pierre Daniel Huet, “Monsieur Huet's Letter upon the Original of Romances”, in A Select Collection of Novels, London: John Watts, page xlii:
  For the Normans, as well as the reſt, were Dabblers in The Gay Science; and we learn from Hiſtory that they ſung the Exploits of Roland juſt before they began that memorable Battle wherein William the Baſtard got the Crown of England.
- 1874, George William Cox, chapter XI, in The Crusades, New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co., page 192:
  The Norman had here laid aside some of his northern roughness, and become and apt disciple of the gay science in which Frederick had won a foremost place.